Ironing table



April 30, 1940. o. A. FLAGSTAD IRONING TABLE Filed June 13, 1938 3 Sheecs-Sheet 1 0.5642 A. FLAGJTAD April 30, 1940. o. A. FLAGSTAD IRONING TABLE Filed June 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 OJC/he H. F'LHGJ TAD April 1940- o. A. FLAGSTAD IRONING TABLE Filed June 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 OJCAB A. FLAGJ TAD Patented Apr. 30, 1940 IBDNING TABLE Oscar A. Flagstad, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 13, 1988, Serial No. 213,855

This invention relates to 6 Claims.

collapsible ironing tables, and the main object is to provide a folding frame structure arrangement which not only firmly and rigidly supports the ironing board,

but which is simple, eflicient, and

practical, and

can be quickly and easily set up for use or collapsed, when not in tailed objects of the following specification,

Further and more deinvention will appear in the reference being made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred and modified embodiments of the invention, and in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of the preferred form of the invention, as for use.

seen when set up ready Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the table as shown in Fig. l, but with portions of the structure broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table in partly collapsed condition.

Fig. 4 is a perspective elevation of the table in completely collapsed condition.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of a guide bracket used in the table, as seen when removed from the lower face of the ironing board proper.

Fig. 6 is a perspective elevation of a mo difled arrangement of collapsible supporting structure,

set up for use.

Fig. 7 is a plan elevation of the table shown in Fig. 6, as seen when collapsed, lower portions being broken away.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section of the brace lock, as seen on line 6-! in Fig. 7.

Referring to and by reference material from which it nates a rear leg frame;

a brace frame.

may be made; 0 a front leg frame; D a

the drawings more particularly characters, A designates generally the ironing board. the term conveniently used regardless of the "board" being particular B desigand E The schematic arrangement of these frames, as

shown, in my earlier patents No. and No. 2,110,108, and tion, Serial No. 170,511, and in order that is quite similar to that which is disclosed 1,963,977, No. 2,056,004,

in my copending applicaiiled October 23, 1937,

the present construction may be more readily understood and its distinguishing features appreciated, briefly considered in the other structures will be order of their filing in the Patent Oihce, as follows:

Patent No. 1,963,977 discloses a folding structure in which the rear end of the brace frame D is detachably interlocked with respect to the rear leg frame 8 by the brace frame E, the upper end frame, as in Fig. 5.

In Patent No. 2,110,108 (a division of 2,056,004) the rear leg frame B, the connecting frame D, and the brace frame E are all permanently connected at pivot point 2i, and in order to provide for collapsing action the rear leg frame is provided with a Jack knife joint, as at II (see Fig. 2).

In my copending application Serial No. 170,511, filed October 23, 1937, the leg frames B and C are rigid units, and the connecting and brace frames (D and E) are permanently pivoted to each other and at their other respective extremities to the front leg frame C and board A. In this instance 25 the frames D and E are connected to the rear leg frame, B, by means of links 2| (45, or it) to permit collapsing action of the parts.

In each of the foregoing instances it may be said that the table structure involves or includes some feature or advantage that is not present in any of the others, and that is also true with respect to the present structure which will now be described and explained in more detail.

Referring first to the preferred embodiment of the invention, as exemplified in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, it will be noted that the board A is of conventional size and form, and may obviously be made of wood, metal, or other suitable material.

The rear leg frame B comprises legs it, which are rigidly connected by cross bar ii, and are pivoted at their upper ends to depending lugs, on the under side of the board, so as to be swingable on a transverse pivot axis ii.

The front leg frame. C, is composed of downwardly converging leg bars It, pivoted at their upper ends to board lugs so as to swing from a transverse pivot axis ll. The lower ends of leg bars ll terminate in a single foot resting on the floor centrally under the foot end of the board to support the same.

The connecting forwardly converging front ends of which frame D comprises a pair of tension bars or rods II, the are permanently pivoted to the leg bars I, as at ll, while their rear ends are permanently pivoted to the legs ll of the rear leg frame 13, as at H.

The brace or lock frame E preferably consists of a single rod it bent into substantially V shape with the outer or lower ends pivoted to the rear leg frame legs II, as at II. The apex end of this frame E has a short transverse portion 20 which extends through and is adapted to slidably operate in companion slots 2! in vertical fiange parts of a bracket 22 medially secured to the underside of the board at the rear end thereof. As shown more particularly in Fig. 5, this bracket is generally U-shaped in cross section and is provided with lateral edge flanges 2f, perforated to receive fastener screws, rivets, or nails. As here also more clearly shown, the rear ends of the slots 2| are provided with upwardly and forwardly offset notches 24 adapted to receive and releasably lock the cross bar 22 of the frame E when the table is in set up or operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the table is in set up or operative condition the various parts are all ri idly maintained in the set up positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To collapse the table it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the board, preferably with one hand at each side, and then lift the rear part of the table, permitting the frame E to free itself from the notches 2i, whereupon the board is tilted toward vertical position permitting the supporting structure to automatically fold (see Fig. 3) into parallelism with the board member, as in Fig. 4. The entire assembly can then be conveniently set in a closet corner, or hung up by a loop strap 25 until it is to be put in use again, at which time it is only necessary to re-tilt the board into horizontal position to restore the frame elements to supporting -position.

It may here be noted that the present structure, as thus set forth, while embodying fundamental folding principles that are very similar to my earlier above identified table disclosures, differs from them in the following particulars. (1) The board is supported at three longitudinally spaced points 2., l2, and I4, thus giving better support than the two point supports in my earlier disclosed tables. (2) The spacing of pivots I2 and H, in preference to arranging them coaxially, also required vertical spacing of the pivots l1 and I! on the rear legs. which pivot connections were also coaxial in my earlier filed applications. (3) The frames B, C, D, and E are all rigid throughout their respective lengths, and are permanently pivoted to each other at all points of contact thus eliminating jointed frames, supplemental links, interslidable frames, leg interlocks. etc. (4) The upper rear end of the brace frame E, while releasably secured to the board, is at all times connected directly to it and can therefore not become displaced and will automatically be guided into and properly held in its adjusted positions.

Turning now to in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, it will be observed that the board A and frames 0, D, and E are substantially identical with the preferred form. and that the pivot centers l2, ll, I8, l1, and I! are also arranged and located in like manner. The rear le frame B is different in that its leg members 28 are not rigidly connected, as by the cross bar II. but are free to spread and contract with respect to each other, and do so automatically in conjunction with the general folding and unfolding actions. To effect this action the legs 28 are conthe modified structure shown arcaeov nected to the board, at a point 21 somewhat rearwardly of pivot axis l2, by a pair of diagonal operating rods 2|, and as the legs are swung to erected positions these rods will transversely spread the lower ends of the legs to thereby give better stabilizing support to the board. Conversely, as the rear leg frame is moved to its folded or collapsed position. as shown in Fig. '7, the rods 22 pull the legs 28 inwardly so that they will come within the lateral limits of the board to thereby conserve space in packing. shipping, and storage. It will of course be understood that the pivot connected joints I2, 21, and 20 are provided with sufficient freedom of action or play to permit the parts to move, as noted, without binding or twisting.

The upper or rear end of the brace frame E guides in a bracket II which is slightly different in form from the bracket 22, but provides an elongated slot 8| which slidably retains the cross part 20 that integrally connects the adjacent ends of frame bars II. In this instance the member 2| is positively locked, or latched, when the table is set up, and must be manually released to permit collapsing the structure.

The latching device includes a lever 32 which is pivoted at one end, at 33, to the bracket 20, while its opposite end extends in a loop 2 slightly beyond the rear end of the board to serve the double purpose of a convenient finger piece, for releasing purposes, and also as a means whereby the table may be hung up on a hook or nail, when not in use. At an intermediate point the lever 32 is provided with a latch tooth 25 between which and a stop bracket 36 the brace part 20 is adapted to be locked, as shown in Fig. 8. A spring 21, mounted on the lever and pressing down against member 38, tends to yieldingly hold the lever up with the tooth It in locking position. When the table is set up the frame E slides rearwardly until its part 20 snaps past the latch tooth OI, thus holding all the parts firmly in place. To collapse the table the operator has only to reach back and press the lever part 34 downwardly sumclent to release the frame E, whereupon the various frames can all be folded into parallel or idle position in the same manner as described in connection with the structure of Figs. l'-5.

When the table of Figs. 6-8 is in operative position it willbe seen that the rear legs 28 coopcrate with the diagonal brace rods l8 and 28 to thus effectively form a rigid tripod support for each side of the table, at the rear, while the frame bars I! and I! combine to form a rigid inverted-pyramidal truss structure for reinforcing the entire device and maintaining the fore end of the board A in operative horizontal position.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ii ning board, a front leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot axis located intermediate the ends of the board, a rear leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot axis spaced between said first mentioned pivot axis and the other end of the board, means to support the front leg frame in operative position, a brace member pivoted to the rear leg frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly to a point adjacent the board and between the rear extremity of the latter and the point of pivot connection of the rear leg frame to the board, releasable means operatively securing the brace member to the board and holding it with respect to tension and compression to thereby restrain both upward and downward movement of the rear end of the board with respect to the rear leg frame, and means carried by the board for guiding the brace member into said releasable securing means, said guide means being of such length and so positioned that it will allow the rear leg frame to swing in a direction away from the guide into folded position.

2. "A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, a front leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot located intermediate the ends of the board, a rear leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement in a direction toward the front leg frame about a transverse pivot axis spaced between said first mentioned pivot and the rear end of the board, means to support the front leg frame in operative position, a brace member pivoted to the rear leg frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly to a point adjacent the board and between the rear extremity of the latter and the point of pivot connection of the rear leg frame to the board, latch means for releasably securing the upper rear end of the brace member to the board to resist separation of said latch means and said brace member when the latter is in either tension or compression to thereby hold the rear end of the board against both up and down movement with respect to the rear leg frame, and means carried by the board for guiding the brace member into said releasable securing means, said releasable securing means comprising a manually released self closing latch.

3. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, a front leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot axis located intermediate the ends of the board, a rear leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot axis spaced between said first mentioned pivot axis and the rear end of the board, means to support the front leg frame in operative position, a tension and compression brace member pivoted to the rear leg frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly to a point adjacent the board and between the rear extremity of the latter and the point of pivot connection of the rear leg frame to the board, means for releasably securing the upper rear end of the brace member to the board, and means carried by the board for guiding the brace member into said releasable securing means, said releasable securing means comprising a latch having a finger release member extending beyond the rear extremity of the board.

4. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, a front leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot located intermediate the ends of the board, a rear leg frame swingably attached to the board, for folding movement with respect thereto about a transverse pivot spaced between said first mentioned pivot and the rear end of the board, means to support the front leg in operative position, a brace member pivoted to the rear leg frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly to a point adjacent the. board and between the rear extremity of the latter and the point of pivot connection of the rear leg frame to the board, means for releasably securing the upper rear end of the brace member to the board, and a slotted member secured to and extending longitudinally of the board for slidably engaging the brace member to guide it into engagement with said releasable securing means, said slotted member being of such length and so positioned that it will permit the rear leg frame to swing in a direction away from the slotted member into folded position.

5. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, a rear leg frame pivoted to the board at a point intermediate the ends thereof and extending downwardly and rearwardly from the point of pivot connection and for swinging movement forwardly and upwardly against the board when the table is collapsed, a brace frame extending from the rear end of the board downwardly and forwardly for pivotal attachment to said leg frame, guide means slidably connecting the upper end of the brace frame to the rear end .of the board while permitting relative movements therebetween, said guide means having an abutment at the rear end to limit rearward movement of the brace frame when the rear leg frame is swung to supporting position, a front leg frame pivoted to the board for folding movement thereagainst in conjunction with the folding of the rear leg frame, and means preventing spread of the leg frames with respect to each other beyond predetermined erected positions.

6. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, supports for respective opposite end portions of the board, one of said supports including a pair of legs pivotally connected at their upper ends to an intermediate part of the board for swinging movement toward the board,

a guide secured under the board, abutment means at the end of the guide remote from the legs, a brace pivotally connected to said legs and adapted to be directed by said guide into engagement with the abutment means when the legs are swung into supporting position under the board, said guide being of such length and so positioned that it will allow the legs to swing in a direction away from the guide into folded pomtion and to swing toward the guide and into contact with the abutment means when moved into operative position.

OSCAR A. FLAGBTAD. q 

